Self Discipline - An Anniyan concept in India. Review on Anniyan Movie

My sister has her favorite quote ''There is a clear line between what is morally right and what is morally wrong''.Unfortunately that line is fast diminishing almost to the point non existence.

I could not find a better way to perceive Anniyan than this.

Anniyan - The concept

If you have ever been angered, when someone behind you honks when you are waiting at a red signal, when someone barges into a queue that you have been waiting in patiently for an hour, when someone happily smokes in a bus when a child near you is coughing, then you must be able to relate to the anger Sankar must have felt.

There is a hypocritical monster within all of us that has lead to India being a developing country full of corruption.

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Honestly evaluate the following and see how many categories you may fit in.

1. You chide the government when amount due are not dispersed in time and in full but while filing tax returns produce fake rent receipts, produce medical bills after giving the pharmacist 10% etc so that you may pay less income tax. Or worse evade paying income tax by quoting ''Let the millionaires pay up their taxes first, my small amount is nothing compared to what they owe''.

   
   




2. You call the person who stuck a film poster in your compound wall by bad names, shout at the next door temple when they play loud devotional songs at late hour when your child is studying for its exams, get irritated at political parties when they erect stages for their meetings, that hold up traffic. After all these, stick balloons and color papers for new year party, play the same music when there is a marriage in your family though the marriage hall is near many apartments and hold up the traffic during the marriage processions.

   
   




3. You talk tall about corruption in the government agencies and criticize the red tape but have paid your local Thasildar or a superintendent Rs.100 for your community certificate and said ''He demands money to do his job, what can I do?''

   
   




4. You have cleaned your lawn and car park to throw the rubbish off your compound wall into the empty plot next door.

   
   




5. You have talked about clean roads in America and when you go out on your vacation throw your food packets from the window of your car into the highway side.

   
   

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Most of us have been involved in 75% of the above mentioned at some point of time or the other. I have done everything said above, at least at one point of time.

In today's India there is hardly anyone at the age of 20 who has not bribed a cop, spit his chewing gum on the road, crossed yellow lines, red lights, speed limits etc. These are things that may have instantly been marked as a ticket on your license in America and three of those will have your license suspended. But in India driving license has become a ''Nice to have'' feature rather than a ''Must have'' entity.

This is a serious question to ponder. When bribing a cop is a felony in US, why has it become a norm in India? Why does every federal employee in US say pleasing 'Sir', 'Have I helped you in all your doubts?', 'Thank you very much for calling the driving license office Sir, have a great day' while I have , in my 29 years never heard a government employee address anyone politely. Not only that, so many other things that seems obvious in US are still a distance dream for India.

The reason, lack of stricter laws ? No. A law is only as effective as its implementation. Do you think there is no law against people crossing yellow lines? there is but there is no implementation What we initially need is stricter enforcement.

Later a permanent solution is individual responsibility

If you agree with me on even 60% of what I have said, Anniyan has succeeded as a concept.

I bow with my hands raised, to Sankar for bringing out a good citizen out of me.

Anniyan - The movie

With such noble thoughts has Sankar succeeded in the medium of cinema? Answer is No.

Since there have been many reviews on the movie, I will not go into details of story etc.

Where he has succeeded

1. Extracting excellent performances out of the cast

   
   




2. Exceptional technical expertise.

   
   




3. Action sequences on par with Hollywood. From now on no one can claim that such extravagant things can be done only in Hollywood.

   
   




4. A comedy performance that neatly merges with the story.

   
   




5. Sarcastic dig at the pathetic plight of Indian consumers.

   
   




6. A gripping climax.

   
   




7. Fantastic dialogues.

   
   

Where he has failed

1. Stereotype characterization.

   
   




2. Repetition of his earlier ventures and other ventures (Ramana/ 4 the people - complaints through web sites)

   
   




3. Background music and songs picturisation (Except for Andangakka, the usual grandeur is missing and so is any innovativeness other than the locales)

   
   




4. Failed to strike a balance between realistic logic and surreal portrayal. For most of the portions, the transition between Dr.Jekyll and Mr.Hyde remains confusion between logic and fantasy.

   
   




5. No original thinking in the action sequences.

   
   

6.Stuffing many scenes just to create the grandeur (Like 1000 buffaloes, karate action scene with students practicing in the fire etc)

1. The final court scene is stupid and totally amateurish.

Who scores

1. 'Sujatha' Renganathan - Dialogue

   
   




2. Peter Hynes - Action

   
   




3. Everyone involved in special effects.

   
   




4. Ravi Varman/Manikandan - Cinematography.

   
   




5. Vikram & Vivek.

   
   




6. Sankar , the thinker.

   
   

Who misses

1. Sankar , the executor.

   
   




2. Harris Jeyeraj.

   
   

On the whole, this is a eye opener as a concept and a flawed but excellent venture as a film.

PS: I have decided not to procure fake rent receipts and medical bills for my next tax filing in India. Thanks Sankar.

Jai Hind.